Latest Ryanair Cost-Cutting Measure? Replace Lavatories With Seats

President of Irish budget carrier Ryanair Michael O'Leary poses prior to a press conference in Madrid in Sept. 2011.

Dominique Faget
/ AFP/Getty Images

Originally published on October 12, 2011 12:07 pm

For a long time, the Irish economy airline Ryanair has been the leader in slashing costs. It's also been known as the airline that made the current nickle-and-dime model of charging for food and carry-on luggage popular.

At one point last year, Ryanair briefly considered charging passengers to use the toilet. Now, Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary has put another cost-saving plan on the table: Removing two of the three on-board lavatories to make room for more seats.

That would mean the entire plane gets to share one loo. As the Daily Mail puts it that's a 200-to-1 ratio, so you may want to consider whether or not to pay for that cola. The Mirror adds:

But the prospect of any possible controversy has not dismayed the airline's famously upbeat CEO Michael O'Leary.

The Ryanair boss argues that the move would ultimately benefit passengers, as it 'would fundamentally lower air fares by about five per cent.'